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〃Well； I calc'late yuh jest about got to talk in。 circles to git anywheres
near Ramon；〃 Applehead retorted； looking back at the others。 〃They's so； dang
many things he MIGHT be aimin' to do； that I ain't been right easy in my mind
the last day or two； and I'm tellin' ye so。 'S like a stormI kin smell
trouble two days off； that's mebby why I'm still alive an' able to fork a
boss。 An' I'm tellin' you right now； I kin smell trouble stronger'n a polecat
under the chicken…house！〃
〃Well； by cripes； let 'er come！〃 Big Medicine roared cheerfully； inspecting a
battered plug of 〃chewin'〃 to see where was the most inviting corner in which
to set his teeth。 〃Me'n' trouble has locked horns more'n once； 'n' I'd feel
right lonesome if I thought our trails'd never cross agin。 Why； down in
Coconino County〃 He went off into a long recital of certain extremely bloody
chapters in the history of that famed county as chronicled by one Bud Welch；
otherwise known as Big Medicineand not because of his modesty； you may be
sure。
Noon of that day found them plodding across a high； barren mesa under a
burning sun。 Since red dawn they had been riding； and the horses showed their
need of water。 They lagged often into a heavy…footed walk and their ears
drooped dispiritedly。 Even Big Medicine found nothing cheerful to say。 Luck
went out of his way to gain the top of every little rise； and to scan the
surrounding country through his field glasses。 The last time he came sliding
down to the others his face was not so heavy with anxiety and his voice when
he spoke had a new briskness。
〃There's a ranch of some kind straight ahead about two miles；〃 he announced。
〃I could see a green patch； so there must be water around there somewhere。
We'll make noon camp there； and maybe we can dig up a little information。
Ramon must have stopped there for water； and we'll find out just how far we
are behind。〃
The ranch； when they finally neared it； proved to be a huddle of low；
octagon…shaped huts （called hogans） made of short cedar logs and plastered
over with adobe； with a hole in the center of the lid…like roof to let the
smoke out and a little light in； and dogs； that ran out and barked and yelped
and trailed into mourning rumbles and then barked again； and half…naked
papooses that scurried like rabbits for shelter when they rode up； and two
dingy； shapeless squaws that disappeared within a hogan and peered out at one
side of the blanket door。
Luck started to dismount and make some attempt at a polite request for water；
and for information as well； but Applehead objected and finally had his way。
If the squaws could speak English； he argued； they would lie unless they
refused to talk at all。 As to the water； if there was any around the place the
bunch could find it and help themselves。 〃These yer Navvies ain't yore
Buffalo… Bill Sioux）〃 he pointed out to Luck。 〃Yuh can't treat 'em the same。
The best we kin look fer is to be left alonean' I'm tellin' ye straight。〃
Luck gave the squalid huts a long stare and turned away toward the corral and
a low shed that served as a stable。 A rusty old mower and a toothless rake and
a rickety buckboard stood baking in the sun； and a few stunted hens fluttered
away from their approach。 In the corral a mangy pony blinked in dejected
slumber； and all the while； the three dogs followed them and barked and yapped
and growled； until Pink turned in the saddle with the plain intention of
stopping the clamor with a bullet or two。
〃Ye better let 'em alone！〃 Applehead warned sharply； and Pink put up his gun
unfired and took down his rope。
〃The darned things are getting on my nerves！〃 he complained； and wheeled
suddenly in pursuit of the meanest…looking dog of the three。 〃I can stand a
decent dog barking at me； but so help me Josephine； I draw the line at Injun
curs！〃
The dog ran yelping toward the hogans with Pink hard at its heels swinging his
loop menacingly。 When the dog； with a last hysterical yelp； suddenly flattened
its body and wriggled under a corner of the shed； Pink turned and rode after
the others； who had passed the corral and were heading for the upper and of a
small patch of green stuff that looked like a half…hearted attempt at a
vegetable garden。 As he passed the shed an Indian in dirty overalls and
gingham shirt craned his neck around the doorway and watched him malevolently；
but Pink； sighting the green patch and remembering their dire need of water；
was kicking his horse into a trot and never once thought to cast an eye over
his shoulder。
In that arid land； where was green vegetation you may be sure there was water
also。 And presently the nine were distributed along a rod or two of irrigating
ditch； thankfully watching the swallows of water go sliding hurriedly down the
outstretched gullets of their horses that leaned forward with half…bent；
trembling knees； fetlock deep in the wet sand of the ditch…banks。
〃Drink； you sons…uh…guns； drink！〃 Weary exclaimed jubilantly。 〃you've sure got
it comingand mama； how I do hate to see a good horse suffering for a feed or
water； or shelter from a storm！〃
They pulled them away before they were satisfied； and led them back to where
green grass was growing。 There they pulled the saddles off and let the poor
brutes feed while they unpacked food for themselves。
〃It'll pay in the long run；〃 said Luck； 〃to give them an hour here。 I'll pay
the Injuns for what grass they eat。 Ramon must have stopped here yesterday。
I'm going up and see if I can't pry a little information loose from those
squaws and papooses。 Come on； Appleheadyou can talk a little Navvy； you come
and tell 'em what I want。〃
Applehead hesitated； and with a very good reason。 He might； for all he knew；
be trespassing upon the allotment of a friend or relative of some of the
Indians he had been compelled to 〃get〃 in the course of his duties as sheriff。
And at any rate they all knew himor at least knew of him。
〃Aw； gwan； Applehead；〃 Happy Jack urged facetiously； sure that Applehead had
tried to scare him with tales of Indians whose pastoral pursuits proclaimed
aloud their purity of souls。 〃Gwan！ You ain't afraid of a couple of squaws；
are yuh？ Go on and talk to the ladies。 Mebby yuh might win a wife if yuh just
had a little nerve！〃
Applehead turned and glowered。 But Luck was already walking slowly toward the
hogans and looking back frequently； so Applehead contented himself by saying；
〃You wait till this yere trip's over； 'fore ye git so dang funny in yore
remarks； young man！〃 and stalked after Luck； hitching his six…shooter forward
as he went。
At the shed； the Indian who had peered after Pink stood in the doorway and
stared unwinkingly as they came up。 Applehead glanced at him sharply from
under his sorrel eyebrows and grunted。 He knew him by sight well enough； and
he took it for granted that the recognition was mutual。 But he gave no sign of
remembrance。 Instead； he asked